George Washington

My husband and I saw this on cable years ago and fell in love with the history and life of George Washington. Barry Bostwick does a superb job as the main character and Patty Duke fits the role as his short wife, Martha. When we found it on VHS, we bought it and over time, our children have all watched it. When we found ourselves going to DC for vacation, we all watched it again to get a feel for the man and his life before visiting Mt. Vernon. Our children said the miniseries helped them understand what they saw and heard at Washington's home. Every history lover should have a copy of this classic miniseries.

This mini-series is without a doubt the best depiction of the life of George Washington that has ever been put to screen. From the acting, to the battle sequences, to the music to the montage of paintings that open each episode, the mini- series shows the life and times of Washington and his experiences in the French and Indian War, and the American Revolution.

The mini Series is divided into 3 episodes. In general, part 1 covers Washington's life in the French and Indian War, part 2 shows the coming and commencement of the Revolutionary War, and part 3 is victory and Independence from England.

Barry Bostwick (Rocky Horror Picture Show, Spin City) gleams in this image of the adventurous, courageous Virginian whose thirst for excitement and knowledge of the wilderness lead him on his career in the Virginia militia. When hostilities break out between England and France for control of this wilderness, it is Washington himself who sheds the first blood. Washington is personally involved in several battles during the war, earning a reputation for courage, competence, and cool-headedness, this despite the fact that most of the battles he fights are complete British disasters.

After the war, Washington wants nothing more then to live in peace at his new home, Mount Vernon with his new wife Martha. Fate however has different plans. Hostilities open up between England and her 13 colonies. When Washington rides north to Philadelphia to pledge support of the Virginia House of Burgesses to Congress, he is immediately voted into command of the ragtag Continental Army in Massachusetts. Throughout the Revolutionary War, Washington leads his poorly disciplined, ill fed, badly shod army into battle after battle. Several times the army, and the dream of independence teeter on the brink of total annihilation. Of course, the day is always saved more often then not by Washington's stubbornness and courage alone.

After 7 years of destructive conflict, the War is over and the United States of America is created. Recognizing that the military must be the servant of the civil power he restrains his angry soldiers from marching on a negligent congress, and resigns his own commission to congress, his duty done, and his assigned task complete.

I have almost no complaints for this mini series, just a regret that they couldn't have made it 4 episodes long, to show more battles. The series has large and frequent time gaps, and the battles that took place in these gaps (that Washington was present for) are explained away in a few lines of dialogue. To a student of history, the battles of Harlem Hights, White Plains, Fort Washington, Brandywine, and Germantown are missed. Other battles that were important despite Washington's absence, such as Lexington, Bunker Hill, Saratoga and Camden are mentioned for their impact on the war, and we learn about them at the same time Washington does.

The mini series reenacts the battles of Fort Necessity, and Braddock's defeat in the French and Indian War and also the battles of Brooklyn Heights, Trenton, Monmouth and Yorktown. The action sequences are broad, lengthy, and exciting, calling together a cast of thousands of reinactors to play British, American, Scottish, Hessian and French soldiers.

Washington's life consisted of more then battles, of course. the mini series also examines the other hardships and triumphs in his life. Pay close attention to the agony Washington goes through watching his men freeze and starve to death at Valley Forge, and the personal trauma he experiences as Benedict Arnold, one of his most trusted and courageous generals turns traitor. Washington also endures the Conway cabal, a sort of coup by jealous officers to oust him from command.

Truly heartwarming scenes involve the idealism of Lafayette (Philip Casanoff) and Von Steuben, the strength and supportive cheeriness of Martha (Patty Duke) the farewell Washington gives to his officers at the end, and any scene involving Sally Fairfax, (Jaclyn Smith), wife of Washington's best friend Will (David Dukes).

Washington's alleged forbidden attraction to the lovely Sally is examined in a family friendly way and depicts Washington in the most flattering and virtuous light possible given what little evidence there is about what did/didn't happen. The series puts any flirtatious and teasing behavior on Sally's shoulders, which may or may not be accurate. Portraying it any other way, however would be out of step with the heroic deeds that Washington accomplished in his life.

This show is probably the only project that studies the Washington story with such attention to detail. It's available on video, if you know where to look, and belongs on the shelf of every flag-waving patriot. I wish it were a 4th of July tradition to show it on networks the way The Ten Commandments is around Passover/Easter time. George Washington is the story of America's Greatest Hero.

History buffs, I urge you to rent the engrossing miniseries George Washington from 1984. Barry Bostwick plays the pre-presidential title character, and he shows great and hidden acting talents. Starting from his youth as he idolizes his half-brother and works on the family farm to support his disapproving mother, he ages decades and lives through love, death, wars, and a crisis of conscience until the end of the Revolutionary War. There was a sequel made two years later, so if you want to see his later years, you can find a copy of that one, too.

Barry was fantastic! He couldn't have been any better, and he managed to fill the great legend's shoes with an incredible presence and a full character. He didn't turn Washington into a caricature, and as the hours rolled by, we felt like we were really watching the general instead of an actor. I couldn't believe he wasn't nominated for an Emmy or Golden Globe - and yet Patty Duke was. Through the years, he grew in strength and character, and he carried his emotional experiences with him, rather than just living from scene to scene.

There's a huge supporting cast in this miniseries. Patty Duke plays the petite Martha Washington, Jaclyn Smith plays his one true love, David Dukes is Washington's dear friend and the obstacle to his heart's desire, and Hal Holbrook portrays John Adams. Lloyd Bridges gets to let his (long and wiggy) hair down as a pioneer and guide, and Philip Casnoff shows off his French as the Marquis de Lafayette. You'll see José Ferrer, James Mason, Kelsey Grammar, Anthony Zerbe, Jeremy Kempt, and Robert Stack on the battlefield; and Trevor Howard, Richard Kiley, Stephen Macht (as Benedict Arnold), and Rosemary Murphy, influence more of the personal scenes. Also, you'll see him in the cast list, but you probably won't recognize this young face unless you're really looking for him in his first role: Viggo Mortensen.

Every bit of the production was well crafted. The gorgeous, authentically designed costumes clothed on dozens of extras were a joy to look at, as were the beautiful countrysides and real historic landmarks used for filming locations. The age makeup was extremely realistic and detailed, from the crow's feet to soft jawlines. While Jaclyn Smith wore more makeup than respectable women in that time period, we can all excuse it because an unadorned face wouldn't convince audiences that George Washington fell in love with someone he shouldn't have.

Even coming from a political science background, there were tons of tidbits included that I didn't know about our first president. If you're in the mood to learn, you'll love this very informative teleplay. If you're knowledgeable on all things Washington, you'll be impressed by writers Jon Boothe and Richard Fielder. This isn't a silly biopic that shows him chopping down a cherry tree; this is a serious historical piece that deserves respect and attention.

I was so fortunate to be in this historical drama on the life of George Washington with Barry Bostwick. The first time with Barry Bostwick was in the makeup trailer getting our faces and hair ready for the time period and then I played in the auction scene at Carter's Grove. Sally Fairfax was moving to England and George was buying a trinket (it might have been her pillow) of Sally's and I was behind him the whole time. I had so much fun in the making of this movie and being on set with John Mills, Jackie Smith and of course Barry Bostwick. A very special memory.

To take that imposing figure come down to us from Gilbert Stuart's famous portrait and turn George Washington into a flesh and blood human being was quite the achievement. I watched this and the succeeding mini-series about Washington and came away thinking I actually knew the man.

I think the credit goes to two people. First the source of this mini- series is James Thomas Flexner's authoritative biography on Washington. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know about our first president and what went into the shaping of his character. The book is eminently readable and Flexner writes so that even a non-historian can appreciate Washington.

The second is Barry Bostwick's performance as Washington. It's not easy to make someone who's attained near mythological status into a flesh and blood human being, but Bostwick succeeds brilliantly. His life and loves are told from early manhood through to the end of the American Revolution. Martha Washington is ably played by Patty Duke.

During our revolution at any number of given points the colonial army could have been snuffed out if British commanders had made different and better choices. Washington endured a few victories, some defeats, but he kept his army intact and in being until the advantage that made that final victory at Yorktown in 1781 presented themselves. He also had to endure a lot of criticism of his leadership from some elements of the Continental Congress.

In fact one should see this together with 1776 and get an idea about the American Revolution from both the military and civilian leadership perspectives.

In the supporting cast I enjoyed James Mason in one of his final roles as British General Braddock who Washington served under during the French and Indian War. It's there where Washington got his baptism of fire in the woods of western Pennsylvania. This is the 18th century equivalent of what the Indians did to General Custer. Washington was lucky to escape that day and Mason does in good job in portraying a very brave, but incredibly stupid general.

I would also single out Jaclyn Smith as Washington's first love, Lady Fairfax and Jose Ferrer as Virginia colonial Lieutenant Governor Robert Dinwiddie who gave Washington his first military command in the French and Indian War.

George Washington is good drama and good history. Anything you want to know about the first American president can be learned here.